Electrode for electro-therapeutic body-wear



(No Model.)

H. P. PRATT. ELECTRODE FOR ELECTED THERAPEUTIC BODY WEAR.

Patented June 11, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY P. PRATT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRODE FOR ELECTRO-THERAPEUTIC BODY-WEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 405,176, dated June 11, 1889.

Application filed March 12, 1889, Serial No, 302,959 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY P. PRATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electrodes for Electro-Therapeutic Body Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to an improvement upon the class of electrodes comprising a plate or disk of stiff metal, being the kind employed in connection with various electric belts known to me, including that for which Letters Patent of the United StatesNo. 388,581 were granted me on the 28th day of August, 1888, and with electric trusses and the like electric body appliances. This inflexible electrode is objectionable for several reasons, principal among which are that, being formed of metal, its direct contact with the body to which it is applied occasions discomfort, and more especially because, since it does not, owing to its lack of flexibility, follow the various movements of the body, it is liable to have at times only a portion of its contact-surface against the body, thereby causing the entire strength of the current to pass through a more or less small portion of the electrode, and by thus increasing the resistance burning and sometimes even blistering the skin.

The object of my invention is to provide means tending to reduce the discomfort incidental to the contact with the body of a stiff metallic electrode, and which shall at the same time permit its conductivity to be increased, thereby lessening the tendency to burning or blistering the skin.

To these ends my invention consists in e11- veloping the metallic electrode, in a covering composed of flexible material (such as chamois-skin) capable of absorbing moisture.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows an electrode of my improved construction in rear elevation. Fig. 2 shows the same in front elevation. Fig. 3 is a cross-section, and Fig. 4 a perspective View, of the electrode before it is covered to afford my improvement.

A is an electrode comprising a disk 9" of metal, having an eye (1 extending from one side, at which to attach it to the usual conductor which connects it with the battery, being also preferably provided with a hook q, at whichto support it on a belt, and p is a cover for the disk, the cover being formed of flexible absorbent material, preferably chamois-skin; and it should be in the form of a pocket to envelop bot-h surfaces of the disk and leave on the. rear side thereof a diametrical slit, through which the eye q and hook q project, and whereby the cover can be readily removed and applied.

The cover affords a soft texture for contact with the body, and may be readily saturated with water, both to increase the conductivity of the electrode and that of the surface of the body to which the moist electrode is applied.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An electrode comprising a metallic plate enveloped in a close-fitting cover of flexible absorbent material, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. An electrode comprising, in combination, a metallic disk '1", having an eye q extending from one side, and a pocket p, of soft absorbent material, enveloping the disk and readily removable therefrom and adjustable thereon, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

HARRY P. PRATT. In presence of- J. W. DYRENFORTH, M. J. BoWERs. 

